Happy Father’s Day! Or whatever! Today is the day fellas. The one day we get to do whatever our wives, girlfriends, or partners have convinced us that we want to do. I just hope at the very least you all enjoy your day and appreciate the complex, yet rewarding role you play as a father.
We all know the running joke. Father’s Day is just another day and we are lucky if our kids and wives remember that it’s Father’s Day. We might get some socks for us to go to work in or some tools for us to do some more house chores, and maybe we get some loving that night if we haven’t done anything during the day to upset the wife.
Father’s Day History
While we may think women don’t really care about Father’s Day, it is actually a woman we have to thank for being able to have a day like Father’s Day nationally recognized. So of course, first came Mother’s Day, and everyone was happy. The mothers were happy, the fathers were happy that the mothers were happy, and the retail stores were happy because their eyes lit up with dollar signs. Then came a lady by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd who saw how mothers were being appreciated and thought that maybe, just maybe, men need a day like this to celebrate them too. After all, her father raised her and her five brothers by himself after her mother passed away. So Miss Sonora went to her local Ministerial Association and YMCA and asked them to set aside a Sunday in June to celebrate fathers, similar to what they do for mothers in May. Well, she got her wishes and on June 19th, 1910 the first Father’s Day event happened in Spokane, Washington.
It was Sonora’s idea to have a day to celebrate fathers that sparked the government officials to make laws to establish Father’s Day as a National Holiday. After the event in 1910, a series of events happened before Father’s Day could become a national holiday. The milestones are shown below.
Father’s Day essentials
The origin story of Father’s Day is an important one to me because Sonora wanted to honor her father and other fathers like hers who were active, intentional fathers. She saw how much her father cared for her and her brothers and wanted to honor him. These are the type of fathers that Father’s Day was meant to honor and celebrate. While the gifts, food, drinks, and fellowship is great on Father’s Day, let’s not forget to tell our fathers how much we appreciate and love them, especially the fathers and father figures who stuck around, the fathers and father figures who took an active role in our lives, the fathers and father figures who try and keep trying to be a good influence, the involved fathers and father figures who nurtured and sacrificed for us.
I admit, when I was younger, I took Father’s Day for granted. Who am I kidding, I probably took it for granted even as an adult. It wasn’t until I had my own and experienced how much work it took, how much pressure came along with it, and how overlooked and sometimes underappreciated the role of a father is, that I started appreciating Father’s Day and giving my father his flowers. My dad may not have been perfect, but for the things he did get right, he deserves to be celebrated and honored on Father’s Day.
President Calvin Coolidge signed a resolution in favor of Father’s Day when he was in power stating that it is a day to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” I believe that this day we ought to reflect on the grandiose responsibility and obligation we have of being a father and appreciate the time spent with our kids. Everyone is on the clock and we are not going to be here forever, so while we’re here let’s make the best of it by being the best fathers we could be and forming strong, intimate, and impactful relationships with our children.
All DADS Matter
I say fathers and father figures because Father’s Day is not only for Biological fathers. I always say “ Biological dad, foster dad, adoptive dad, stepdad. STILL DAD”. So if you are able to visit your dad on Father’s Day, then go on and visit Face-to-Face. If you are far away, use technologies like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype to have that virtual face-to-face interaction. Make the important
I say a special prayer to all the fathers who have lost kids and all the kids who have lost fathers. Father’s Day could be an especially tough day for some people. I pray God gives you peace and that you remember the good times spent.
To the Fathers out there and the kids who are still blessed to have their fathers in their lives, use today to show love and appreciation to the man who aided and abetted in your conception.
Happy Father’s Day! Continue to get better day by day.
The little Engineer that could! Ryian Williams, wears multiple hats as a husband, father, author, speaker, and engineer. Driven by his enthusiasm for coaching and uplifting men, he has embraced the lifelong mission of guiding men toward becoming the most authentic versions of themselves
Well said and well put together…even worst when the wife’s bday on Father’s day, i’m confused AF lol!!